Cork the trend setters in Allianz NHL

March 16, 2010
A year ago, Cork hurlers were just emerging from their post-strike controversy but now it's all very different as wins over Offaly, Limerick and Kilkenny have seen them zoom to the top of the Division 1 table.

They head for Walsh Park to take on second-placed Waterford on Sunday as the League
heads for the fourth round in a competition that is living up to all expectations.

DIVISION 1: CORK SET PACE IN DEMANDING GROUP
Saturday (2.30): Galway v Offaly, Pearse Stadium.
Sunday (2.30): Dublin v Kilkenny, Parnell Park; Waterford v Cork, Walsh Park; Limerick v Tipperary, Gaelic Grounds.
Scored more than anybody else, full points from three games...it's all going very well for Denis Walsh and his Cork side after three rounds of the Allianz Hurling League as they sit proudly on top of the table, two points clear of Waterford, Galway and Tipperary and four ahead of Kilkenny, Dublin and Offaly. Limerick are the only team without a point so far.
It really is turning into a very competitive group and the pattern will continue next weekend when round four takes centre stage.
Galway host Offaly on Saturday while on Sunday, the TG cameras will be in Walsh Park for live coverage of Waterford v Cork, which is likely to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
It's most unusual for Kilkenny to lose two successive League games so they will be extremely anxious to avoid an unfortunate three-in-a-row against Dublin in Parnell Park while Limerick who have scored less and conceded more than anybody else face another major test at home to Tipperary.
Last year: Galway v Offaly - didn't meet; Waterford 2-22 Cork 3-15; Kilkenny 1-23 Dublin 3-15; Tipperary 1-17 Limerick 1-11 (Allianz Hurling League); Tipperary 6-19 Limerick 2-7 (All-Ireland semi-final).


DIVISION 2: ONE POINT SEPARATES TOP FIVE
Saturday (2.30): Kildare v Down, Newbridge.
Sunday (2.30): Carlow v Wexford, Dr. Cullen Park; Antrim v Clare, Casement Park; Laois v Westmeath, Portlaoise.
Clare and Wexford were always going to be favourites to reach the final and while they lead the way on five points each from three games, they are being hotly pursued by Carlow, Laois and Antrim, all of whom are on four points. Clare and Wexford will both be away on Sunday with Clare heading to Casement Park to take on Antrim while Wexford have a shorter journey to Dr. Cullen Park to take on Carlow, whom they beat easily in last year's League.
Down and Westmeath are both without a point after three games. Down play Kildare on Saturday while Westmeath will be away to Laois who had a great win over Antrim last Sunday.

DIVISION 3A: KERRY ONLY TEAM ON FULL POINTS
Sunday (2.30): Derry v Armagh, Celtic Park; London v Kerry, Ruislip; Meath v Mayo, Pairc Tailteann.
Kerry take a 100 per cent record from three games to Ruislip to take on London, who picked up their first win last Sunday when they beat Armagh. Derry, two wins from three games, are also going well and with home advantage against bottom-of-the-table Armagh they will be confident of staying in line for a top two finish.

DIV 3B: FOUR COUNTIES ON FOUR POINTS
Sunday (2.30): Tyrone v Louth, Omagh; Donegal v Wicklow, Letterkenny; Roscommon v Fingal, Athleague.
It's very tight in the battle for promotion with Fingal, Wicklow, Louth and Donegal all on four points, two clear of Roscommon while Sligo and Tyrone have yet to pick up any point.

DIVISION 4: MONAGHAN SHOW THE WAY
Sunday (2.30): South Down v Fermanagh, Liatroim; Longford v Leitrim, Pearse Park; Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni Park.
Monaghan have full points from three games and are also the top scorers in a group where only South Down have yet to pick up any points.


ALLIANZ GAA NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE 2010 - RESULTS & FIXTURES
DIVISION 1
Round 1: Waterford 4-13 Dublin 0-12; Galway 1-18 Limerick 1-11; Cork 1-22 Offaly 1-11; Tipperary 1-14 Kilkenny 1-13.
Round 2: Cork 2-21 Limerick 1-14; Kilkenny 1-17 Offaly 0-12; Galway 4-15 Waterford 1-15; Dublin 1-21 Tipperary 1-12.
Round 3: Tipperary 2-17 Galway 0-14; Cork 0-18 Kilkenny 1-13; Offaly 3-19 Dublin 1-8; Waterford 2-20 Limerick 2-10.
March 20: (Round 4): Galway v Offaly.
March 21: (Round 4): Dublin v Kilkenny; Waterford v Cork; Limerick v Tipperary.
March 28: (Round 5): Offaly v Limerick; Dublin v Cork; Tipperary v Waterford; Kilkenny v Galway.
April 4: (Round 6): Galway v Dublin; Limerick v Kilkenny; Waterford v Offaly; Cork v Tipperary.
April 18: (Round 7): Kilkenny v Waterford; Galway v Cork; Offaly v Tipperary; Dublin v Limerick.

DIVISION 2
Round 1: Clare 2-20 Down 0-6; Wexford 1-20 Westmeath 0-14; Antrim 1-11 Carlow 2-7; Laois 1-15 Kildare 0-8.
Round 2: Wexford 2-23 Down 1-12; Antrim 1-19 Kildare 2-7; Clare 2-12 Laois 1-11; Carlow 5-17 Westmeath 1-10.
Round 3: Kildare 4-10 Westmeath 0-11; Clare 1-22 Wexford 2-19; Carlow 3-11 Down 3-9; Laois 2-19 Antrim 1-12.
March 20: (Round 4): Kildare v Down.
March 21: (Round 4): Carlow v Wexford; Antrim v Clare; Laois v Westmeath
March 28: (Round 5): Wexford v Kildare; Westmeath v Antrim; Carlow v Clare; Down v Laois.
April 4: (Round 6): Antrim v Down; Laois v Wexford; Kildare v Carlow; Clare v Westmeath.
April 18: (Round 7): Wexford v Antrim; Kildare v Clare; Down v Westmeath; Carlow v Laois.

DIVISION 3A
Round 1: Meath 2-16 London 1-14; Kerry 3-13 Derry 1-9; Mayo 0-19 Armagh 0-17
Round 2: Meath 1-20 Armagh 2-17; Derry 5-16 London 0-8; Kerry 1-18 Mayo 2-14.
Round 3: Kerry 3-30 Meath 3-10; London 4-7 Armagh 1-15; Derry 3-12 Mayo 1-7.
March 21: (Round 4): Derry v Armagh; London v Kerry; Meath v Mayo.
March 27: (Round 5): Kerry v Armagh; Meath v Derry; Mayo v London.

DIVISION 3B
Round 1: Louth 2-11 Sligo 0-11; Wicklow 0-15 Fingal 1-8;
Round 2: Roscommon 8-15 Tyrone 1-6; Donegal 1-21 Louth 3-10; Fingal 0-15 Sligo 0-10.
Round 3: Wicklow 1-18 Sligo 0-10; Fingal 4-17 Donegal 1-14; Louth 1-12 Roscommon 1-8.
March 21: (Round 4): Tyrone v Louth; Donegal v Wicklow; Roscommon v Fingal.
March 28: (Round 5): Fingal v Tyrone; Wicklow v Roscommon; Sligo v Donegal.
April 4: (Round 6): Roscommon v Sligo; Tyrone v Wicklow; Louth v Fingal.
April 18: (Round 7): Sligo v Tyrone; Wicklow v Louth; Donegal v Roscommon.


DIVISION 4
Round 1: Cavan 1-17 Leitrim 0-4; Longford 2-14 South Down 1-14; Monaghan 5-14 Fermanagh 3-7.
Round 2: Fermanagh 1-16 Leitrim 1-14; Longford 1-11 Cavan 1-9; Monaghan 0-15 South Down 0-10.
Round 3: Fermanagh 2-14Cavan 2-12; Leitrim 3-15 South Down 3-10; Monaghan 2-13 Longford 1-12
March 21: (Round 4): South Down v Fermanagh; Longford v Leitrim; Cavan v Monaghan.
March 28: (Round 5): Leitrim v Monaghan; South Down v Cavan; Fermanagh v Longford.

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